, 1887-01-29

SCRIPTS.
The friends of Prince Nicholas in his
own country are of opinion that should he
be appointed to rule in Bulgaria, and find
himself supported by the Buigarians i'll
the same degree as was Prince Alexander
of Battenberg, he will be. we'll inclined to
follow a liberal national policy and not
consent to be a mere Russian instrument
or dOcile puppet.
This opinion is based on the Welt-knOWn
influence of the Princes old tutor and
friend, Dimitri Kipiani, a highly-eSteemed
and worthy man, entertaining liberal pa
triOtic opinions, for which he has suffered
much at the hands of Russian authorities.
He was sent into exile 10 Western Russia
as implicated in the conspiracy of 1892,
which aimed at the deliverance of Georgia
from Russian depOtism, aud, white an
exile, gave himself up to the study of sci
ence aud literature. He is master of Spve-
raj European languages, has published
translatiOnS of several of ShakeSpeareS
plays, grammar, and a series of scientific
ESSAYS in the periodicals of his lime On
hi return to his country he was elected
Mayor Of TifiiS, i'll opposition to a Russian
nominee, then marshal of the Georgian,
Imeretian, and Mingrelian nobility, when
he was again exiled last October, at the
advanced age of rs, OH his making all
u SCbO tgkSC L AAO "a AAA~AO " SN>
maintenance of the national rights of the
GeOrgians as acknowledged by treaties.
Another tutor Of the Prince Nicholas,
warmly remembered by him, was "a certain
Ilakli Lord kipamidZe, who died five years
ago, and who encouraged and advised the
Princess Catherine Dadiani, the Princes
mother, TO uphold the autonomous pliYi-
leges of her house i'll Mingrelia and not
surrender to Russian oppression. His
letters were intercepted by the Russian
authorities, who threatened him with exile,
but he coulageOuSly replied that, as TRUSTEES
for the young Princes, his duty WAS 10
defend their hereditary rights at all risks.
The Russian Government then menaced
the Dowager Princess with the SAINT fate
for her children as that OF the AbkhaSian
Princes (whO were dispoSSeSSed of their
bi%rthrights) If they did not declare they
would voluntarily renOunce their preteIl-
SiOnS to stand against tue will of the
Gar.
Princess Catherine was the daughter OF
the poet Alexander Scharvachidze. and her
sister, Princess Nina, married the AmbaS.
sadOr TO Persia, GIibOiedOtf, who was killed
at Teheran in 1929. The Dowager Prin-
ceSs'S brother, Prince David, a lieutenant.
general in the Russian army, died ia 1884,
and his magnificent property was bought
up NY IuO SIONu lOI OI0 uIIlllO1 EOuOIcS.
There is one remarkable trait. III tho
character of these Caucasian descendants
of the ancient ruling local dynasties, to
which the people have remained firmly
attached and devOted,-that they are ex-
ceedingly tolerant and deal with ScruI u.Ous
importantly with the MusSulman members
OF The population, who in their turn respect
and esteem them, the ennity Of The Mos.
lens being directed more especially against
the Russian officials, who Cypress AND
maltICat them at every turn.
1t is to be observed that the system per-
siStently pursued by the Russian Govern
ment in dealing with the Caucasian
possessions offers a striking similarity in
its historical development with that how in
course i'll the Bulgarian question. AT FIRST
the Government i%nterveneS fOrGibly or in
SldiOuSly, under pretext of protecting the
Christian population against their oppres-
SorS, and with no view to conquest, Annex
alton, or interested poses, as liberatOr
and protector of autonomous rights and
privileges subscribed to in formal solemn
treaties and charters entered into with the
hereditary indigenous rulers. These ell.
gageinents are gradually violated or tacit-
~ ignored and set aside through intrigue
OF military Ovcrbearing authorities, and
the influential members of the local re.
Sptcted ancient chirftainS are transferred
tn - fnESI1 nr ,V,lA IL 1:-.nA n